Portland navy commander loses job

THE Commander of Portland’s namesake naval warship has been removed from her post after an investigation into claims of an affair with a crew member.

Commander Sarah West was the Commanding Officer of HMS Portland but was sent home last month after she reportedly had an affair with a crew member on board the ship.

Now, following the investigation, Cdr West was removed from the position on the state-of-the-art Type 23 Frigate, though she will remain within the Navy.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “We can confirm that Commander Sarah West, Commanding Officer of HMS Portland, has been removed from command. “This is an internal matter between the individual and her senior officers and we will not give further details of the removal. Commander West will continue to serve in the Royal Navy and she will be reappointed to a post where her skills and experience can be used to best effect.”

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Commander West was the first woman to be made captain of a Royal Navy ship when she took over in 2012 and has spoken of her pride.

The frigate last week returned to English shores after a seven-month deployment in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

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